LeBron James Ballin: Producing New Series And Giving Back

Lebron James is not just ballin on the court. He continues to give back to his community and make his mark in the entertainment world.

James is launching a new public school for at risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. I knew there was a reason I loved me some King James!

The school is part of the James Family Foundations “I Promise School” campaign designed to keep inner city students from falling through the cracks. James came from that same inner city born to a 16-year-old mother, Gloria Marie James, who raised him on her own When James was growing up, life was often a struggle for the family, as they moved from apartment to apartment in the poverty stricken neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find steady work. Realizing that her son would be better off in a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed him to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach, who introduced James to basketball when he was nine years old

James will chronicle the launching of the school through a new docu series produced by Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment and Morgan Spurlock’s Warrior Poets.

“The aim is to explore the challenges, triumphs and life changing impact of the LeBron James Family Foundation’s “I Promise School” campaign aimed at keeping inner city students from falling through the cracks. The series will cover the first year and highlight the teachers, mentors and community partners as they tailor a curriculum and environment designed to give the kids a fighting chance.”

James wrote:

“Being able to create this school to specifically meet the needs of these kids and their families means everything to me. There are so many kids and families struggling and we want this school to be a safe, positive place that helps them stay on the right track to earning their educations. Having SpringHill Entertainment and an amazing filmmaker like Morgan Spurlock here to document this process is huge. We believe we’re changing the mold with the I Promise School, and we’re excited to have that story be told by people who understand the importance of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Spurlock released a statement on the series, saying: ,

“What LeBron has accomplished on the court pales in comparison to the lasting effects he is having on the young people of Akron. I am honored to be able to share this journey with him as well as with parents, fans and teachers around the world.”

James’ SpringHill Entertainment launched in 2013. To date, they have sold three pilot pitches to broadcast networks while producing the hit Starz series Survivor’s Remorse, which ended this year after four seasons. The company is also producing a comedy for HBO set in an L.A. sneaker store, a limited series based on the life of Madame CJ Walker starring Octavia Spencer and White Dave based on the life of David E. Talbert. And you probably remember Spurlock who became famous after producing Super Size Me, a documentary on the ill effects on his health of eating nothing but McDonalds for 30 days.